Boots is reporting retail sales growth of 5.9 per cent for the three months to 29 February 2024, on top of a 16 per cent increase in the prior year quarter. This is the pharmacy chain’s 12th consecutive quarter of retail market share growth.

“More customers are shopping at Boots with footfall up both in store and online. Boots.com and the Boots app continue to grow rapidly with digital sales up 16.8 per cent, driven by particularly strong sales of beauty and personal care products,” the company says.

In-store sales growth remained steady, up 4.5 per cent, with flagship, shopping centre and travel stores performing particularly well. Christmas trading was particularly strong with sales up throughout December.

The Boots beauty-only store opened in London’s Battersea Power Station in December. The store’s launch, along with upgrades to a number of Boots beauty halls across the UK, contributed to overall beauty sales growth with particularly strong gains in skincare.

In healthcare, Boots saw services deliver growth of almost 40 per cent driven by continued strong performance of Boots Online Doctor, with weight loss proving the most popular and fastest growing service. In retail health, steady sales growth was driven by gains in the Boots own label range.

The NHS Pharmacy First Service in England has been "extremely well received by customers, with over 20,000 consultations carried out by Boots pharmacists in the first few weeks of operating".

Customers continue to respond well to a focus on value with Boots Price Advantage driving an increase in sign-ups to the Advantage Card, with one million new members joining in the past year, the company reports.

Sebastian James, Boots UK & ROI chief executive, commented: “I am really pleased to positive momentum continue across the whole business. I am particularly proud of our pharmacy team, who worked incredibly hard to launch Pharmacy First in England.

“The feedback from patients has been brilliant and it is clear that they value the convenience of accessing a trusted healthcare professional on their local high street with no appointment necessary. We see a significant opportunity to do more in this area.”